December 2014/January 2015
What’s Inside
2 Re-Cap Oct 27 MNJ at the B.O.B.4 Re-Cap Nov. 17 MNJ at the B.O.B.
6-7 December Jazz Schedule
8-9 January Jazz Schedule
9 Memberships
10 Jazz in the Sanctuary
11 M.O.Y. Nomination form
WMJS continues hosting Monday Nite Jazz at Bobarinos, located on the second floor of the B.O.B., 20 Monroe NW, Grand Rapids MI.6:30-8:30 pm.
Open seating. $5.00 for students and members, $10.00 for guests.
Some free parking is available in the lot adjacent to the building.
An All -Volunteer
Organization Since 1986
Vo l . 2 9 N o . 9616-490-9506
www.wmichjazz.org
facebook.com/WestMIJazzSociety
The Marshland TrioMonday Night Jazz January 19th
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Organissimo is not able to perform. However, we are excited to present the fabulous Marshland Trio. The members include piano virtuoso Terry Lower, Traverse City based Jack Dryden on upright bass and WMJS’s 2013 Musician of the Year Randy Marsh on drums.
Lower studied composing/arranging and performance at the prestigious Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has become a favorite with WMJS’s audiences while backing up Edye Evans Hyde. Lower has been active on the Jazz scene for over 30 years both here and abroad performing and/or recording with many Jazz greats including the Nelson Riddle and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras.
Dryden also attended Berklee College of Music, and received a master degree in music from Wayne State University. Jack has performed with the Boston Pops, under the direction of John Williams, and the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, under the direction Eric Kunzel, as well as with Bob James, Pat Metheny, Buddy Rich, Doc Severenson,
Robert Goulet and a list is too long to mention.
Marsh is a third-generation musician, growing up in a jazz household, his mother a jazz singer and his father a Las Vegas based saxophonist. Randy has been professionally active for more than 40 years and has performed in a wide variety of music and entertainment settings. He has taught many a young musician
his unique
style of drumming and continues to encourage young musicians by inviting them to sit in on his now 2 year old “Jazz Jam” at the Speak EZ.
This talented trio is bound to provide a wonderful and memorable evening of music. Don’t miss it!
2 Jazz Notes
Petra Van Nuis and the Andy Brown Trio (Andy on guitar, Joe Policastro on bass and Bob Rummage on drums) blessed us again with a visit from the Windy City.
This night, enabled by a very generous Jack and Mary Morrison, was smooth! It started with a Surrey (With the Fringe on Top) and ended Running Wild.
Petra - the comfortable, comely and tasteful chanteuse - was marvelously partnered with the band to share stories upbeat, loving or poignant. The program harkened back to earlier times and was a delight because it featured writers like Johnny Mercer and Cole Porter, therefore presenting romantic, intelligent and poetic lyrics that lovingly provoked both minds and hearts.
The club was filled. Kurt performed his usual magic with the sound system. Patrons were rapt whether the trio alone jumped through Basie’s “The 9:20 Special” or special guest Tom Hagen lent his vast clarinetist skills to “Some Of
These Days” or Petra and Joe interplayed alone on “Night and Day” or the whole ensemble led us through “Interlude”, “Stormy Weather” and “Take Me In Your Arms”. Bob Rummage played “Everything I’ve Got Belongs To You” as if he created and owned it; and Andy and Joe skillfully played off each other all night, perhaps most noticeably with Henry Mancini’s “The Shadows of Paris”.
Come to think of it, it was better than smooth, more like a single malt kind of thing. Pete Proli
Monday Night Jazz October 27
December 2014 3
Jazzy News!Newsletter Editor Needed
WMJS wants a volunteer to produce and edit the JazzNotes newsletter. Typically, there are 8 editions per year, each one eight to twelve pages long and following our traditional format (subject to change, should the volunteer wish to create a different layout). The editor writes articles, solicits and edits content (articles and supporting photographs, musician schedules, paid advertising and membership news) from other volunteers, collaborates with our graphic artist for layout, and submits final PDFs to our printer for hard copy production and mailing, and to our Webmaster for inclusion and member emailing.
Ideally, the volunteer will have experience in producing and editing a newsletter, but any detail-oriented person with writing skill could fulfill the position. Most of the writing done or solicited by the editor will be performance recaps or short human-interest articles. The editor will work closely with other volunteers who gather jazz performance information, provide membership information, contribute photographs or write proposed articles.
The volunteer will serve in partnership with other members of the marketing/communications team and the board of directors. Interested volunteers should contact Donna Kahny at 745-5962 or [email protected].
The 2014 ArtPrize St. Cecilia Music Center’s Jazz Music Award winner is...
Roger MacNaugton, with his original entry titled “5 Mile Mountain”. “5 Mile Mountain” was composed by Roger in
April 2014 to commemorate his move to the beautiful hills of Cannon Township
in West Michigan. (the Jazz Award was sponsored by Otterbase Inc, Sue
Tiggleman and anonymous)
CONGRATULATIONS ROGER!
Aquinas College’s OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) has hired Robin
Connell to teach a class entitled “The Great American Songbook Seasonal
Favorites.” The class will meet Tuesdays, Dec 2 & 9, from 9:30am-
11:30am. Last I heard there were about 50 people enrolled & the class is being
moved to a bigger room!For more information-
http://www.aquinas.edu/olli/pdf/fall2_14.pdf
St Cecilia Music Center will hold auditions Jan 12, 4-7pm, for the after school music programs (orchestra, band, jazz). Paul Brewer and Robin
Connell are the faculty for the two jazz classes (improvisation & ensemble).
http://www.scmc-online.org/school-music/
4 Jazz Notes
Monday Night Jazz November 17
Jim Cooper, vibraphone, marimba and percussion - Dave Hay, keyboards and acoustic bass - Mike VanLente, drums…. collectively known as CHV, brought their musical flame to downtown GR on the snowiest, blowiest, blusteriest night of the fledgling winter season. And they managed to heat things up convincingly! And why is it that the group that has the farthest to drive, gets the winter storm?
No worries…. CHV opened the evening with the Dave Hay composition “Designated Hitter”, a hard-driving, multi-metered tune that had the joint jumpin’. The breezy “Javelina Nights” followed, a Cooper tune inspired by his time in Arizona that created a somewhat ironic contrast to sideways snow outside the backdrop stage window!
The remainder of first set featured some nice covers of Cole Porter’s “I Love You” and Irving Berlin’s “Blue Skies”, both featuring the brilliant arco bowing of multi-instrumentalist Hay on upright bass. A word about Dave
Hay… one of the finest pianists anywhere… check. One of the most gifted bassists around… check. I’ve heard Dave on drums, too. Exceptional and… check. He is his own jazz trio!
December 2014 5
Included in set one was the funky jazz rocker “Yearning For Yen”, a Cooper original that showed off the incredibly diverse and solid rhythmic styles of the anchor, drummer Mike VanLente.
Second set opened with the warm and soothing Chick Corea staple, “Sea Journey”, featuring a lovely marimba intro from Jim. I am constantly in
awe of two comping instrumentalists (piano and mallets) that compliment, rather than trip over each other. The chemistry here between all players is spot on, subtle and always intensely listening, but yet not shying away from exploring the creative forces of each performer. Set two included one of my personal favorites, the colorful Dave Hay composition “Falling Star”, a former ArtPrize entry, and from the group’s only release so far, “Trio
Musik”. Rounding out second set, Victor Feldman’s “Too Blue” and a very charged “Cherokee”, courtesy of Dave Hay’s daring arranging finesse.
Clearly, a nice night to stay inside and take in a very rousing musical opus from these veteran jazzers! Mark Kahny [email protected]
photos by Bruce Robey
Tickets start at $20! | (616) 454-4771 | T icketmaster.com | grbal let .com
GR A ND R A PIDS BA LLET
Dec 12-14 & 19-21 DeVos Hall
Happy Holidaysfrom
WMJS
6 Jazz Notes
Monday, Dec 1John Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
Tuesday, Dec 2Jazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no coverMark Kahny w/ Diane Vandewater at Bar Divani, 7-10 pm
Wednesday, Dec 3Tom Hagen Trio featuring Rick Reuther at Noto’s, 6:30 – 9:30 pmBenje Daneman & Ashley Daneman, from New York at the Book Nook & Java Shop in Montague, 7-9 pmFreddy DeGennaro at Mangiamo! 7 pm
Thursday, Dec 4Robin Connell at Lumber Baron Bar in Amway GrandHotel, 6-9 pmRandy Marsh with Jeff Haas Trio at Cambria Suites, Traverse City, 7-9:30 pmMark Kahny at Mangiamo! 7-10 pmCheckers Junior Jazz at the Book Nook & Java Shop, Montague, 7-9 pm, $5 cover
Friday, Dec 5John Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pmThe DB Three (Dave Bowen, Mike Lutley & Bill Huyge) at Garden Court Lounge in the Amway Grand Hotel, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Dec 6Steve Hilger Trio at Riverstop Café, Newaygo, 7 pmJohn Shea at Noto’s, 7-10 pmThe DB Three (Dave Bowen, Mike Lutley & Bill Huyge) at Garden Court Lounge in the Amway Grand Hotel, 6-10 pm
Sunday, Dec 7GR Jazz Orchestra at Founder’s, 5:30 – 7:30 pmRandy Marsh at SpeakEZ, w/ Terry Lower & Jack Dryden 7-10 pm
Monday, Dec 8WMJS Annual Holiday Party at Watermark Country Club, 5500 Cascade Rd, 6:30 – 10 pm
December Jazz Around Town
Monday, Dec 8 John Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
Tuesday, Dec 9Jazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no coverMark Kahny w/ Rebekah Rhys at Bar Divani, 7-10 pm
Wednesday, Dec 10Tom Hagen Trio featuring Rick Reuther at Noto’s, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Thursday, Dec 11Robin Connell at Lumber Baron Bar in Amway Grand Hotel, 6-9 pmKaren Cameron Trio w/ Mark Kahny at the Book Nook in Montague, 7-9 pm, $5 coverRandy Marsh with Jeff Haas Trio at Cambria Suites, Traverse City, 7-9:30 pm
Friday, Dec 12Tami Hjelm & Roger McNaughton at Mangiamo! 7 pmJohn Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pmThe DB Three(Dave Bowen, Mike Lutley & Bill Huyge) at Garden Court Lounge in the Amway Grand Hotel, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Dec 13Mark Kahny w/ Bobby T at What Not Inn, Fennville, 6-10 pmThe DB Three (Dave Bowen, Mike Lutley & Bill Huyge) at Garden Court Lounge in the Amway Grand Hotel, 6-10 pm
Sunday, Dec 14Randy Marsh & Organissimo at SpeakEZ, 7-10 pm
Monday, Dec 15John Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
Tuesday, Dec 16Truth in Jazz Orchestra at Watermark 920 Division, Muskegon 7:30 – 9:30 pmMary Rademacher Reed & Tom Hagen at Bar Divani, 7-10 pmJazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no cover
December 2014 7
Wednesday, Dec 17Tom Hagen Trio featuring Rick Reuther at Noto’s, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Thursday, Dec 18Robin Connell at Lumber Baron Bar in Amway Grand Hotel, 6-9 pmRandy Marsh with Jeff Haas Trio at Cambria Suites, Traverse City, 7-9:30 pmBrad Fritcher+Trois at the Book Nook & Java Shop, Montague, 7-9 pm, $5 cover
Friday, Dec 19Robin Connell & Paul Brewer at Mangiamo! 7 pmSteve Hilger Trio at Grill 111, Rockford, 6 pmJohn Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pmThe DB Three (Dave Bowen, Mike Lutley & Bill Huyge) at Garden Court Lounge in the Amway Grand Hotel, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Dec 20John Shea at Noto’s, 7-10 pmKathy Lamar w/ Paul Lesinski at Mangiamo! 7 pm
Sunday, Dec 21Randy Marsh w/ Tony Viviano & Jack Dryden at SpeakEZ, 7-10 pm
Monday, Dec 22John Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
Tuesday, Dec 23Kathy Lamar & Steve Talaga at Bar Divani, 7-10 pmJazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no cover
Wednesday, Dec 24 CHRISTMAS EVE
Thursday, Dec 25 CHRISTMAS DAY
Friday, Dec 26John Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Dec 27John Shea at Noto’s, 7-10 pmSteve Hilger at JW Marriott, 6-10 pm
Sunday, Dec 28Randy Marsh & Organissimo at SpeakEZ, 7-10 pm
Monday, Dec 29John Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
Tuesday, Dec 30Jazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no cover
Wednesday, Dec 31 NEW YEAR’S EVEKathy Lamar w/ Bob Van Stee at Mangiamo! 7 pm
River City Jazz Band at Amway Grand Hotel, Pantlind Ballroom, big band music & dancing 9pm-1:00 am, amwaygrand.com for pricing packages
John Shea at JW Marriott, 7-11 pm
The DB Three (Dave Bowen, Mike Lutley & Bill Huyge) at Garden Court Lounge in the Amway Grand Hotel, 8pm-1 am
Be sure to check for additions and changes on our website, www.wmichjazz.org, WMJS’s Facebook, the venues as well as
the musician’s websites
December Jazz Around Town
8 Jazz Notes
Thursday, Jan 1Robin Connell at the Lumber Baron Bar, Amway Grand Hotel, 6-9 pm
Friday, Jan 2John Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Jan 3John Shea at Noto’s, 7-10 pmGRJO at Founder’s 5:30-7:30 pm
Sunday, Jan 4Randy Marsh at SpeakEZ, 7-10 pm
Monday, Jan 5John Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
Tuesday, Jan 6Jazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no cover
Wednesday, Jan 7Tom Hagen Trio featuring Rick Reuther at Noto’s, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Thursday, Jan 8Robin Connell at the Lumber Baron Bar, Amway Grand Hotel, 6-9 pmRandy Marsh with Jeff Haas Trio at Cambria Suites, Traverse City, 7-9:30 pmMark Kahny, Jazz at the Book Nook & Java Shop, Montague, 7-9 cover, $5 cover
Friday, Jan 9Mark Kahny, The Melting Pot, 4-7John Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Jan 10John Shea at Noto’s, 7-10 pm
Sunday, Jan 11Randy Marsh at SpeakEZ, 7-10 pm
Monday, Jan 12John Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
January Jazz Around Town
Tuesday, Jan 13Jazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no cover
Wednesday, Jan 14Tom Hagen Trio featuring Rick Reuther at Noto’s, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Thursday, Jan 15Robin Connell at the Lumber Baron Bar, Amway Grand Hotel, 6-9 pmRandy Marsh with Jeff Haas Trio at Cambria Suites, Traverse City, 7-9:30 pmMichael Pierce & Friends, Jazz at the Book Nook & Java Shop, Montague, 7-9 cover, $5 coverKathy Lamar and the Crew “One Trick Pony”, 8-11
Friday, Jan 16John Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Jan 17John Shea at Noto’s, 7-10 pm
Sunday, Jan 18Randy Marsh at SpeakEZ, 7-10 pm
Monday, Jan 19WMJS at the B.O.B. 6:30 – 9:30 pm - Marshland TrioJohn Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
Tuesday, Jan 20Jazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no coverTruth in Jazz at 920 Watermark, 920 Division, Muskegon, 7:30 – 9:30 pm. $5 cover
Wednesday, Jan 21Tom Hagen Trio featuring Rick Reuther at Noto’s, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Thursday, Jan 22Robin Connell at the Lumber Baron Bar, Amway Grand Hotel, 6-9 pmRandy Marsh with Jeff Haas Trio at Cambria Suites,
December 2014 9
Thursday, Jan 22 Traverse City, 7-9:30 pmJim Beegle & Friends, Jazz at the Book Nook & Java Shop, Montague, 7-9 cover, $5 cover
Fri, Jan 23John Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Jan 24John Shea at Noto’s, 7-10 pm
Sunday, Jan 25Randy Marsh at SpeakEZ, 7-10 pm
Monday, Jan 26John Shea at Republic, 8-11 pm
Tuesday, Jan 27Jazz Jam at The Grand, Grand Haven, 22 Washington, 7:30 – 10:30 pm, no cover
Wednesday, Jan 28Tom Hagen Trio featuring Rick Reuther at Noto’s, 6:30 – 9:30 pm
Thursday, Jan 29Robin Connell at the Lumber Baron Bar, Amway Grand Hotel, 6-9 pmBrad Fritcher + Trois, Jazz at the Book Nook & Java Shop, Montague, 7-9 cover, $5 coverRandy Marsh with Jeff Haas Trio at Cambria Suites, Traverse City, 7-9:30 pm
Friday, Jan 30Mark Kahny, The Melting Pot, 4-7John Shea at JW Marriott, 6-10 pm
Saturday, Jan 31John Shea at Noto’s, 7-10 pm
Be sure to check for additions and changes on our website, www.wmichjazz.org, WMJS’s Facebook, the venues as well as
the musician’s websites
January Jazz Around Town
PATRON
Deb Snow
DONOR
Yvonne Allen & Bill
Barnett
Jack & Angie Gibson
Peter & Linda Johnson
Charles & Angie Royce
James Saxe
NEW MEMBERS
Jay Fowler & Cathy Neis
Charles VanLente
RENEWING MEMBERS
Ernie & Mary Beckwith
Charlie Boylen
John Briel and Kathleen
Maguire
Joel Burke & Mary
Koewers
Maxine Corder
Janice Erber
Barbara Fisk
Lawrence & Mary Lou
Hicks
Sue Hunter
Mike Lutley
Robert & Helen Nolan
Robin Jensen
Stuart and Jeffrey Poel
David & Jean Regester
Mary Anne Rewa
Art & Linda Schichtel
Mark Siegrist
Ron & Kay Stacilauskas
David Stader
Matt & Lois Tomasiewicz
Mary & David Tulos
Sandy Ward
A hearty welcome to our new members!
And a HUGE thank you to our new lifetime members, donors and
all those renewing their memberships.
Our jazz concerts continue because of the support we receive from you!
10 Jazz Notes
Jazz In The Sanctuary At Fountain Street Church
Jazz in the Sanctuary seeks to explore the deep connection between jazz piano and bass in an acoustic setting.
The next concert will be held on 2/08/15, at 3pm, at Fountain Street Church, and will feature renowned jazz artists, Xavier Davis and Matt Brewer, with Grand Rapids musician, Robin Connell, as host.
The final concert in the 2014-15 series will be held at the church on 4/26/15 and will feature Grand Rapids jazz pianist, Steve Talaga.
XAVIER DAVIS - PianoGrand Rapidian by birth, jazz pianist, Xavier Davis, recently joined the esteemed faculty of Michigan State University as Associate Professor of Jazz Piano. For six years prior, he taught at the Juilliard School in New York City.
Reviews for his debut CD as bandleader, ‘Dance of Life’, include:
“...the music exudes a mature, nonchalant ease and cozy empathy that make this...a rewarding listen” – Jazz Times
“Davis steps out with an accomplished debut” – Downbeat
Xavier Davis simply knows how to make every note on his instrument sing, and he invariably finds the richest area of the keyboard for voicing his chords - Bob Blumenthal, jazz critic/writer.
MATT BREWER - BassBassist, Matt Brewer, was born in Oklahoma City, but grew up mostly in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He attended high school at Interlochen Arts Academy and college on full scholarship at the Julliard School.Matt has been an adjunct faculty member at the New School University and has taught several times at the Banff International Workshop in Jazz and Creative Music. Mr. Brewer has established a foothold as one of the stalwart young bassists on the progressive jazz scene. – New York Times
ROBIN CONNELL - HostOriginally from Detroit, and a GVSU alum, jazz pianist/singer, Robin Connell, led her own jazz band and worked as a side-woman during the decade she lived in New York City. She taught jazz studies at the Interlochen Arts Camp for twenty summers where she met her husband, Dr. Paul Brewer. She moved with Paul to Grand Rapids in 1999 and currently teaches part time at GRCC and Aquinas College in addition to ‘gigging’.
$10 adults/$5 students – concert only • $20 – additional for reception– proceeds to benefit Heartside Ministry
February 3, 2015 3:00 p.m.
December 2014 11
Musician of the Year Nomination Form The West Michigan Jazz Society invites its membership to send in nominations for consideration for the 2015 WMJS Musician of the Year Award. The award was established in 2000 to honor outstanding local musicians and is given annually to recognize someone who has contributed over a period of time to the West Michigan scene in perpetuating a greater awareness of jazz. This year's recipient will be announced in January. . Please complete to the best of your knowledge submit the nomination form below by December 31, 2014. You must be a member in good standing to submit a nomination. Mail to: WMJS, M.O.Y. Committee, P.O. Box 150307, Grand Rapids, MI 49515 Your Name
___________________ First ____________________ Last
• Your Email Address___________________________________ • • Name of Nominee____________________________________
____________________ First ____________________ Last
• Nominee's Email Address________________________________________ • Musical Affiliations of the Nominee (Music Teacher, Private Lessons, Local Choirs,
etc.)
• In 100 words or less, please describe the musical impact the nominee has had on the community, and why you feel they deserve this honor.
Musician of the YearN O M I N A T I O N F O R M
December 2014/January 2015Jazz Notes is the newsletter for members of the West Michigan Jazz Society.
If you would like your jazz event included in our media publications please send your schedules to [email protected] by the 15th of the month.
West Michigan Jazz Society Board MembersBoard meetings are held the last Tuesday of each month.
Pete Proli - President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 616-866-0147Donna Kahny - Vice President . . . . . . . . 616-745-5962
WMJS main number . . . 616-490-9506 Email . . . [email protected]
This December/January edition of Jazz Notes was produced by:
John Miller Editor
LK Creative Design, Graphic Design and Production
Jan Basham, Event Calendar Support
Contributing Writers: Pete Proli, Mark Kahny, Donna Kahny
Contributing Photographers: Bruce Robey, Pamela Teachout and Donna Kahny
Printed by Storr Printing
Website Design and Maintenance by Van Wyk Technology Consulting LLC.
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Detach and mail with check made payable to West Michigan Jazz Society P.O. Box 150307, Grand Rapids, MI 49515
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